RABAT (Al Jazeera) – Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has called for a restoration of diplomatic ties with neighboring Algeria, which broke off diplomatic relations with Rabat last year.
During the traditional speech marking the 22nd anniversary of the king’s accession to the throne on Saturday, Mohammed said he aspires to establish with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune normal relations between the “two brotherly peoples”.
“I stress once again that the borders that separate the Moroccan and Algerian brothers will never be barriers preventing their interaction and understanding,” the monarch said.
He urged Moroccans to “preserve the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and good neighborliness towards our Algerian brothers” and described the two countries as being more than neighbors.
“We consider Algeria’s security and stability as part of Morocco’s security and stability,” Mohammed said. “What affects Morocco will also affect Algeria, because they are complementary twins.”
Morocco and Algeria have long been at odds over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, where the Algiers-backed Polisario Front is seeking independence from Rabat’s rule.
Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021, accusing Rabat of “hostile acts”.
The decision was “completely unjustified”, Rabat said.
The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994.
The disputed status of Western Sahara – a former Spanish colony considered a “non-autonomous territory” by the United Nations – has pitted Morocco against the Polisario Front since the 1970s.
Rabat, which controls nearly 80 percent of the territory, is pushing for autonomy under its sovereignty.
The Polisario Front, however, wants a UN-sponsored referendum on self-determination.
Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory was backed by Washington in a 2020 deal that also saw Rabat normalize ties with the Zionist regime.
Algeria, which supports the Palestinian cause in addition to the Front, has taken the opportunity to criticize Morocco’s growing military cooperation with the Zionist regime.